Pharmalittle: Catalyst will charge $375,000 for rare disease drug; fentanyl is most commonly used drug in overdoses

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An anonymous donor is paying for a pricey Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) cystic fibrosis drug for a family whose insurance would not cover the cost for their 3-year-old daughter, The New York Post reports. The company had declined to provide a three-week supply of its Orkambi treatment, which the family could not afford. Justin Kennedy says his insurer refused to pay for the medicine, while the company says his daughter did not meet criteria for providing a so-called bridge supply. His wife’s insurance does not begin until Jan. 1, and he says they cannot afford the $20,000 cost until then.

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